U.S. Army Launches America's Army - The Graphic Novel

June 5, 2009

U.S. Army Launches America's Army
- The Graphic Novel

The U.S. Army announced today that
it has launched America's Army - The Graphic Novel, a free online publication
based on America's Army 3 (AA3), the only action game that delivers an authentic
and entertaining Army experience by reflecting the training, technology,
actions, and career advancement of a Soldier within an exciting, free game
experience. The graphic novel is live now on the America's Army website
www.americasarmy.com/graphicnovel/. The AA3 PC game, in which Every
Detail Counts™, will debut this summer.

This exclusive online novel allows
readers to explore the storyline behind the AA3 game through stories that
showcase Army operations, Military Occupational Specialties, and high tech
equipment while following the lives of U.S. Army Soldiers at home station and
while deployed. Readers will discover stories of bravery and teamwork by
Soldiers whose jobs include Intelligence Analyst, Medic, UAV Operator,
Infantryman, and Apache Helicopter Pilot.

Chapter 1, "Knowledge is Power"
opens with the deployment of a U.S. Army Long Range Surveillance (LRS) team as a
conflict arises between two fictitious countries, Czervenia and the Republic of
the Ostregals. In this issue, U.S. Army Soldiers demonstrate combat readiness
through superior military intelligence and elite training as they join coalition
forces providing humanitarian aid to an allied country under genocidal attack.
When an ominous plan is discovered and a dangerous conflict erupts, the U.S.
Army answers the call.

"Many America's Army players are
huge graphic novel fans so this is an excellent way to further explore today's
Army and the lives of Soldiers," said Michael Barnett, Executive Producer for
the graphic novel. "This is the most authentic graphic novel about the Army
every produced. U.S. Army Special Forces Soldiers ensured the accuracy of every
detail from the dialog to the uniforms to the placement of the glow sticks
strapped onto the gear of an airborne LRS team as they skydive from the back of
a C130. And by reading the graphic novel, players may find useful game tips that
may give them an edge when playing AA3 this summer."

The online graphic novel features an
original flash interface with advanced viewing controls to grab and flip pages
as one would a printed comic and to zoom-in on a specific panel to more easily
read it and enjoy the art. Many pages have context links so readers can click to
learn more about Army life, jobs, or gear or reference the "field manual" which
offers readers a glossary of terms and Army acronyms.

America's Army - The Graphic Novel
was produced by Michael Barnett and written by M. Zachary Sherman (Shrapnel)
with art by Michael Penick (The Corps!) and J. Brown (Thunderbolts). The web
interface was developed by Bill Howard.

About America's Army

The Army creates and distributes
America's Army so that young Americans can virtually explore Soldiering in the
U.S. Army like Soldiers experience it – as individuals and as members of teams.
Through the Game's virtual experiences, young Americans can explore the Army
from basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and medic training at Fort Sam
Houston, Texas, to operations in defense of freedom. Along the way, they can
join elite Army units and experience the strength of Army teamwork, values, and
technology within an engaging environment. The game has become an online
phenomenon, consistently ranking among the most popular PC action games played
online. The games are rated T for Teen and can be downloaded free via Steam
(URL) and from various partners listed on the
www.americasarmy.com website.
They are also distributed at local Army Recruiting stations, ROTC Detachments,
and Army events.

In the America's Army game, players
are bound by Rules of Engagement (ROE) and grow in experience as they navigate
challenges in team-based, multiplayer, force-on-force operations. In the game,
as in the Army, accomplishing missions requires teamwork and adherence to the
Army's Core Values. Through its emphasis on team play, the game demonstrates
these values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and
Personal Courage and makes them integral to success in America's Army.

The Army launched America's Army in
July of 2002, and has released major updates to the game every few months. These
releases feature new technologies, missions, Army units, and occupations. In
keeping with the dynamic nature of Soldiering, the America's Army game will
continue to expand and allow players to explore the Army of today, tomorrow, and
the future.